Mammoth Hot Springs

Located in the north of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs is completely different from any other sight in the park. The area consists of two parts, the Lower Terraces and the Upper Terraces, which are connected by both a boardwalk and a road. Liberty Cap is among the best known of the Lower Terrace’s features. Rising 37 feet in the air, this hot spring cone was named in 1871 for its resemblance to the peaked caps worn during the French Revolution. The cone shape formed when the hot spring’s plumbing system had a continuous flow for perhaps hundreds of years. Minerva Spring is another favorite because of its wide range of colors and intricate travertine formations. The key sights of the Upper Terraces include Prospect Terrace, New Highland Terrace, Orange Spring Mound, Bath Lake, White Elephant Back Terrace and Angel Terrace. Orange Spring Mound is so named for its color, which is created by bacteria and algae, and shape, which is a result of very slow water flow and mineral deposition, while Angel Terrace is known for its pure white formations and the colorful microorganisms seen in its active periods.

Mammoth Hot Springs

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